On Your Side: Eroded ditch and a busted pothole

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The On Your Side team was hard at work Monday, chiseling away at a new week full of results for you and solutions to your problems.

In Inglewood, Donna Johnson said she was concerned about the ditch that runs parallel to her property. She said the ditch is eroding away and taking her property with it.

She said she is concerned with "the property actually giving way and my house falling in."

First Coast News called the city and spokesperson Debbie Delgado tells FCN within the next few weeks, Public Works will be installing crushed concrete along the bank to help with the overland water flow contributing to the erosion.

"Public Works cleaned out and scraped (also known as "regrading") the ditches last year and have done this several times over the years with inmates and will continue this regrading on a regular basis," Delgado said.

City spokesperson Debbie Delgado tells FCN that JEA has a sewer line in the area. Delgado said the city and JEA are working together to resolve this.

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On the campus of Florida State College at Jacksonville's North Campus Jacksonville Police Academy, Stephen, who is a student there, said he nor other "clock-hour" students have gotten their financial aid refunds since summer 2013.

Stephen said he wants an answer on when they'll get them.

The school sent an email to students on September 19. The spokesman said school is in the process of determining financial aid eligibility and awards for 363 returning students. Because of complex federal regulations, it'll take about five hours per student to figure out. It's all expected to be done by October 25th. The college has covered books, tuition and fees for affected students' current classes. If they're not eligible for aid, they won't have to repay money given to them.

The following is a statement from Executive Dean of Career and Technical Education Jim Simpson, provided to FCN on October 3, 2013

"Overall, the college has reviewed and made 19,296 awards totaling $29,342,749.98 to 10,755 unduplicated students as of 10/3/2013. This represents 96.7% of total number of students. There are 363 students who have not yet been reviewed to determine their award/eligibility.

"Due to changes, by the USDOE, in the way that financial aid is awarded to clock hour students vs. credit students, the determination of the awards is a manual process. The College's current financial aid system does not support the processing required by these changes.

"As of October 1st, we are in the process of determining the eligibility and awards for 363 returning students. According to the professional consultants hired by the College, due to the complexity of the regulations governing clock hour programs combined with the manual determination of aid eligibility for returning students, it will take approximately five hours per student to complete the review process. To complete this task in a timely manner, FSCJ has hired or assigned a total of 12 dedicated individuals to this effort; seven FSCJ personnel and five external consultants are working on the determination of aid.

"It is estimated that the College will complete the determination of aid for all 363 students by October 25th. The College has communicated to the students that they would not be dropped from any class that they have enrolled in, even if the student is not determined to be eligible for financial aid. The College has covered the books and tuition/fees for the classes that they are currently enrolled in and have communicated to the students that in the event they are not deemed financial aid eligible, they will not have to repay the funds advanced to them.

"Financial aid funds that a returning student, who is found to be financial aid eligible, may be waiting to receive any award in which the total dollar amount awarded exceeds the books, tuition and fees advanced by the College (usually referred to a surplus). In addition, the College has established an "emergency fund" for those students who can document an immediate and pressing need.

"All new students enrolled in clock hour programs, who applied for federal aid by the First Priority deadline have been disbursed their aid."

He said the problem may be because your TV isn't 16 by 9. The solution depends on your television, cable service provider and converter box. If you have a 16 by 9 TV, change the view mode. If not, consider an inexpensive converter box.

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